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Eastbound & Down

HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada) and Astral’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) is home to some of comedy’s biggest stars when Danny McBride returns as washed-up major-league pitcher Kenny Powers in the third season of Eastbound & Down, followed by the premiere of Ricky Gervais’ new comedy series, Life’s Too Short, starring Warwick Davis.

The eight-episode third season of The Eastbound & Down premieres Sunday, February 19 at 10 p.m. ET/MT, followed the seven-episode season of Life’s Too Short at 10:30 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, day-and-date with HBO in the US.

From Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Life’s Too Short , follows actor Warwick Davis as he struggles to jumpstart his fading career and maintain his status as Britain’s “go-to” little person. He runs a talent agency for fellow showbiz little people called Dwarves for Hire, though he often takes the best roles for himself, and serves as vice chairman of a society for small people, though he’d rather be chairman. Davis also seeks advice from his old pals Gervais and Merchant (playing versions of themselves) in hopes that their A-list celebrity connections will aid his career.

Star-studded cameos in each episode of the faux documentary series include Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson, Sting, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Carell and Kat Deeley. Other cast regulars include Jo Enright as Davis’ soon to be ex-wife Sue, Rosamund Hanson as his dim-witted assistant Cheryl, Steve Brody as his incompetent accountant and “EastEnders” actor Shaun Williamson as himself. The series was created by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Warwick Davis, is executive produced by Gervais and Merchant, and produced by Charlie Hanson.

The new season of Eastbound & Down returns to the story of Kenny Powers, a former star pitcher whose self-destructive behavior knocked him out of Major League Baseball. Picking up a year after Power’s soul-searching time in Mexico as La Flama Blanca, the third season finds Powers in action on the “Redneck Riviera” (aka Myrtle Beach, SC), somehow resurrecting his baseball career by becoming the closer for the minor-league Myrtle Beach Mermen. Even as he tries to pass himself off as the “King of Myrtle Beach,” Powers struggles to come to terms with growing older and accepting the responsibilities of being a new father.

This season, Jason Sudeikis ( Saturday Night Live ) joins the cast as Kenny’s new best friend and kindred spirit Shane, a veteran catcher with the Mermen. Eastbound & Down also stars Steve Little as Stevie, Kenny’s faithful sidekick; John Hawkes as Kenny’s brother Dustin; Jennifer Irwin as Dustin’s wife, Cassie; Andrew Daly as Terrence Cutler; and Elizabeth De Razzo as Maria, Stevie’s Mexican wife. Special guests include Katy Mixon as April, the mother of Kenny’s one-year-old child; Will Ferrell as car dealer Ashley Schaeffer; and Matthew McConaughey as baseball scout Roy McDaniel. Eastbound & Down is executive produced by Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy, Adam McKay, Jody Hill and Danny McBride.

In Eastern Canada, all episodes of Eastbound & Down and Life’s Too Short will be available in High Definition and on demand, and on HBO Canada OnLine with Bell TV Online, Rogers On Demand Online and Videotron’s Illico Web. In Western Canada, episodes of Eastbound & Down and Life’s Too Short will be available in High Definition on HBO Canada HD, and on demand and online with HBO Canada On Demand where available through participating broadcasters.

Starring Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames – New York writer and wannabe private detective – the second season of Bored To Death begins as Jonathan decides to teach creative writing night classes to help make ends meet.

While moonlighting as a teacher, Jonathan continues to put his amateur sleuthing skills to use by taking on some new desperate clients ranging from a kinky politician to the publishing rival of his sexagenarian pal, George Christopher (Ted Danson). Bored To Death also stars Zach Galifianakis as Jonathan’s laconic, hen-pecked cartoonist friend Ray Heuston.

From several of Hollywood’s top comedy minds, including Will Ferrell and Adam MacKay (Funny or Die Presents), HBO’s no-holds-barred, half-hour comedy series Eastbound & Down returns to follow the exploits of arrogant, burned-out, former big league ball player Kenny Powers (Danny McBride). After learning in the Season 1 finale that an offer to pitch in Tampa Bay was bogus, Kenny dumped his then girlfriend April Buchanon at a local gas station, then headed south in his SUV alone with his humiliation.

As the second season begins, Kenny has landed in a small Mexican town where he’s taken up residence with his lackey Steve Janowski (Steve Little) – who’s tracked Kenny down using a credit card trail – and a new love interest, sultry lounge singer Vida (Ana de la Reguera). Together with his crew, Kenny fashions a comeback scenario that involves a local baseball team, the Charros, and its filthy-rich owner, Sebastian Cisneros (Michael Peña).

Bored To Death and Eastbound & Down will be simulcast on HBO Canada HD, and new episodes will be available on demand. Episodes will also be available on The Movie Network OnLine with Bell TV following their network premieres.